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Gladiator, a review by DJ DoenaRussell Crowe ... Maximus Joaquin Phoenix ... Commodus Connie Nielsen ... Lucilla Oliver Reed ... Proximo Richard Harris ... Marcus Aurelius Derek Jacobi ... Gracchus Djimon Hounsou ... Juba Tomas Arana ... Quintus Ralf Moeller ... Hagen Synopsis: The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who challenged the emperor. Basically the tagline of the movie but it pretty much sums it up. General Maximus was supposed to give Rome back to the people but the son of the emperor had other plans, mainly: becoming emperor himself. Their fate won't be decided on the battlefield but under the eyes of the cheering crowd in the arena that is the Colosseum. My Opinion: This movie is the reason I never bought Spartacus or Ben Hur on DVD. I've seen them quite a few times when I was young but I fear they can't hold up with this one anymore. In the beginning I didn't even want to watch it because I thought the age of sword & sandal movies was over but I was wrong. It's an awesome movie, I love the story and I love the action. "Is Rome worth one good man's life? We believed it once. Make us believe it again." (From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on November 15th, 2009) The Manchurian Candidate (1962), a review by AntaresThe Manchurian Candidate Year: 1962 Film Studio: United Artists, M.C. Productions Genre: Suspense/Thriller Length: 126 Min. Director John Frankenheimer (1930) Writing Richard Condon (1915)...Novel George Axelrod (1922)...Screenplay Producer George Axelrod (1922) John Frankenheimer (1930) Howard W. Koch (1916) Cinematographer Lionel Lindon (1905) Music David Amram (1930)...Composer Stars Frank Sinatra (1915) as Maj. Bennett Marco Laurence Harvey (1928) as Raymond Shaw Janet Leigh (1927) as Eugenie Rose Chaney Angela Lansbury (1925) as Mrs. Iselin Henry Silva (1928) as Chunjin James Gregory (1911) as Sen. John Yerkes Iselin Leslie Parrish (1935) as Jocelyn Jordan John McGiver (1913) as Sen. Thomas Jordan Review John Frankenheimer had spent his first decade as a director doing live dramas on television, most notably on Playhouse 90. His transition to mainstream film brought him quick acclaim following his success with The Birdman of Alcatraz. The Manchurian Candidate would prove that Frankenheimer would be a force to be reckoned with as a filmmaker and innovator over the next decade of his career. Based on the novel by Richard Condon, the plot revolves around a platoon of G.I.'s captured by the Communists during the Korean War. In a span of just one week they are brainwashed by a Chinese doctor, menacingly portrayed by Khigh Dhiegh, who is best remembered as the sinister Wo Fat from Hawaii 5-O. One of the soldiers (Laurence Harvey) has been programmed to kill on command and the platoon is returned to the front lines, with a pre-planted story to explain their disappearance for the previous week. After the war, Major Marco (Frank Sinatra) is having nightmares about the week in captivity, although he has no true memory of the brainwashing. He contacts Sergeant Shaw (Harvey) and learns that another soldier in the platoon has contacted Shaw about similar nightmares. Will Marco unravel the mystery before Shaw is triggered by his Communist handlers to perform the assassination that he has been programmed to complete? You'll have to watch the movie to find the answer. One interesting side note; this movie was released just one year before the assassination of President Kennedy, the one time Senator from Massachusetts. In one scene in the film, Shaw (Harvey) as the assassin is in Madison Square Garden prior to a political party convention. As he is walking across the convention floor with his hidden rifle, we can see the placards of the State delegations. It's a tracking shot of Shaw as he makes his way to complete his mission. Just as he passes below the Massachusetts placard and as the other state placards disappear from the shot, the scene changes. Was it prophetic or just coincidence? Review Criterion4 Stars - Historically important film, considered a classic. (From The Manchurian Candidate (1962) on July 1st, 2010) Tom's TV Finales marathon, a review by Tom
Plot: The rules of comedy are about to be broken in Andy Richter Controls The UniverseAndy Richter Controls the Universe Season 1.19 Charity Begins D Block Writer: Victor Fresco (Created By), Dave Jeser (Writer), Matt Silverstein (Writer) Director: Andy Ackerman Cast: Andy Richter (Andy Richter), Paget Brewster (Jessica Green), Irene Molloy (Wendy McKay), Jonathan Slavin (Byron Togler), James Patrick Stuart (Keith), Charlie Robinson (Warden), John Bliss (Mr. Pickering), Jim Beaver (Craig), John Eric Bentley (Doctor), Rex Lee (Asian Man), Lee Rutera (Skeeter), Walter Williamson (Silbert Danforth) A great TV show which was cancelled much too soon. Sadly the last episode was just a run-of-the-mill episode and isn't even a season finale. It was good, but not as funny as other episodes of this series. Rating: (From Tom's TV Finales marathon on January 26th, 2013) |